Taiyi Dao Fruit

As the monk fled, the dark clouds over the street also began to dissipate, and the two members of the Taiping Sect were about to deal with the overly talkative passerby, Feng Manlou.

However, upon witnessing the abrupt death of the monk, they paused their steps. Seeing the sword-carrying scholar appear, they even began to retreat.

Who is he?

Jiang Li looked toward Feng Manlou, who seemed keen to explain today.

"Imperial College, Zhong Shenxiu."

Feng Manlou gazed at the scholar and recited as if listing treasured knowledge, "The foremost student of the current generation at the Imperial College, also the only one who solely practices Martial Arts, not studying anything else, not even Confucianism's inherent skill 'Word Follows Law.' He is most adept at the method of Observing Objects to Obtain Knowledge. It is said that at the age of fifteen, he spent three days and nights without sleep, using the method on bamboo. Eventually, on the fourth day, he sliced through the bamboo mid-air without using True Qi."

"At the age of twenty-two, when a sixth-rank Devil Cultivator, Ying Yu, caused trouble, Zhong Shenxiu, then a seventh-rank, fought against it and killed it with a single strike. His fame soared greatly, and he was taken as a closed-door disciple by the Imperial College Sacrificial Officer."

"In the following years, Zhong Shenxiu occasionally traveled, slaying opponents he encountered. Countless Cultivators died by his hand; his swordsmanship was said to be so precise and exquisite that everyone claimed his swordsmanship could create transformations, thus he was given the name 'Creation Divine Blade.'"

"Last year, already a sixth-rank, he clashed with the Dinghu Sect's Yun Jiuye at Dragon Abyss Lake just outside the Divine Capital, causing a great tide not seen in ten years, an event that became widely celebrated."

"That's an overpraise," Zhong Shenxiu said with a light smile, "To kill that Ying Yu, I spent half a month targeting the fish, and another half a month slaughtering fish in the marketplace. Hence the tale of cutting down the enemy with one stroke. As for the battle with Yun Jiuye, that was merely a spar, and Brother Yun did not exert his full strength."

He spoke of killing fish without any hesitance, openly admitting that someone of his stature, an Imperial College Scholar, would slaughter fish in the marketplace, displaying neither humility nor pride, just a sense of inevitability.

As if the words that came from his mouth ought to be so, neither humble nor arrogant.

Imperial College Zhong Shenxiu, a man who seizes one's memory upon sight.

"Yun Jiuye didn't use his full strength, and neither did you," Feng Manlou chuckled and said, "I heard that recently Scholar Zhong was in White Mountain Black Water slaying dragons to study objects and planned to travel west to Buddha Country. What made you return?"

"To visit Buddha Country was to witness the laws of Buddha Country and to study the Cultivators there. I returned to witness more wonderful methods,"

Zhong Shenxiu maintained a calm smile and said, "The land of Yong Province is buzzing with activity, with talents from Taiping Sect, Dinghu Sect, and Daode Sect all arriving. Before my return, I heard that Buddha Country's Chief Disciple was also considering entering our borders. How could I be absent? Fortunately, upon my arrival in Fufeng, I met such a remarkable figure as yourself."

He looked at Jiang Li, his gaze as calm as an ancient well, yet Jiang Li felt as though he could sense traces of a cold, thin sharpness skimming along his own surface.

As if searching for a weakness to exploit with his blade.

'He is measuring me,' Jiang Li realized clearly.

From Feng Manlou's recent words, Jiang Li had come to understand Zhong Shenxiu's sword skills.

Observing Objects to Obtain Knowledge means thoroughly investigating the principles of things to acquire knowledge, and Zhong Shenxiu not only observed objects but also people, and techniques.

Thoroughly understanding a person, breaking through their techniques, and then cutting down the person and breaking the technique, proved advantageous in every way.

This was quite similar to Jiang Li's Emperor's Qi Observation Skill.

Jiang Li, aware of Zhong Shenxiu's actions, felt a sudden change in the air around him. Eight strands of qi intermingled outside his body, creating endless transformations, as if enveloping himself in a layer of fog. To others, Jiang Li seemed like a flower seen through fog, not clearly discernible.

For Zhong Shenxiu, it was like entering a labyrinth where paths twisted and could change at any moment, making it impossible for him to find the endpoint.

He discerned one transformation, and another emerged; Eight Qi Interactions, endlessly transforming. He probed back and forth through hundreds of different qi, yet Jiang Li's figure remained as if shrouded in real fog, only his eyes, harboring stars, Eight Trigrams, and heavenly stems, remained clear.

Zhong Shenxiu gradually revealed a hint of interest; his eyes suddenly brightened, as if harboring two swords, gleaming coldly.

The previously subtle and thin sharpness suddenly materialized, resembling a fish darting through the labyrinth of qi at an unbelievably fast pace, faster than the interactions and transformations of the qi. In a blink, it had pierced through the fog, directly targeting Jiang Li's true self.

But at that moment, the wind began to rise.

The wind left by the Cloud Movement and Rain Formation suddenly brushed against Jiang Li's body, making him seem as if he had merged with the wind and then retreated behind it. The trajectory of the airflow concealed Jiang Li's true form.

At this moment, Jiang Li used the great wisdom of "Wind Control" to hide within the wind, borrowing the power of nature to shield himself.

Could Zhong Shenxiu observe objects, people, and laws, but could he truly comprehend everything in the universe?

"Is there still someone in this world who can utilize the power of nature for their own use?" Zhong Shenxiu became even more intrigued.

It was not about forcibly changing the world with his own power, but truly utilizing the power of the world for himself, a rare sight in Zhong Shenxiu's life.

His eyes really gleamed at this moment, turning into two suns. Wherever his gaze and the sword light reached, they pierced through Jiang Li's energy and sought to break the trajectory of Liu Feng.

However, in the next instant, the two suns dimmed.

"Forcing a breakthrough with power is too disappointing."

Zhong Shenxiu shook his head, still interested, but he retracted his gaze.

His strength surpassed Jiang Li's, and his realm was even greater. Even if Jiang Li's transformations were profound, Zhong Shenxiu could forcibly break through, but that would lose the true meaning of Observating Objects to Obtain Knowledge.

He observed objects to attain knowledge, not to win or lose.

"Just by meeting you, Zhong Shenxiu considers this journey worthwhile."

Zhong Shenxiu's hand rested on the hilt of his sword, smiling, "This sword is named 'Observating Objects.' One day, I hope to meet your skills with it."

As for now, Jiang Li's strength was not yet sufficient.

"I take my leave."

Zhong Shenxiu nodded slightly and left crisply.

He didn't ask for Jiang Li's name. Who else could it be, if not the recently famous Jiang Li?

"I'm famous now too," Jiang Li murmured softly, his gaze deeply contemplating Feng Manlou.

Seventh-Rank defeating Sixth-Rank, Seventh-Rank slaying Fifth-Rank, Jiang Li was now thoroughly famous. Correspondingly, there was immense attention from others, which was why he needed to travel in disguise.

But he had barely entered the city when his disguise had been exposed.

It was all because of that Dragon King's Affiliated Son-in-law.

"Don't rush.

Feng Manlou bent over to pick up the Dao Fruit that burst from the monk, chuckling, "Causing your disguise to be exposed, let me compensate you with one."

Jiang Li: "?"

Feng Manlou's gaze hinted, "What do you think of him?"

Following Feng Manlou's gaze, Jiang Li looked over to the departing duo from the Taiping Sect.

"I have a way for you to take over the identity of that doctor from the Taiping Sect," said Feng Manlou.

'I have a feeling you intentionally sought me out to have me take his place,' thought Jiang Li internally.